Ben-Gvir's Warning Before Oct. 7 Hamas Attack Revealed

Three days before the October 7th Hamas massacre, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir warned against a policy of containment along the Gaza border, advocating for a more forceful response to perceived threats. The Otzma Yehudit party released footage of a conversation Ben-Gvir had on October 4, 2023, with security coordinators (Rabbashatzim) in Kibbutz Nirim, overlooking Jabalia in northern Gaza.

In the recording, Ben-Gvir expressed concern that avoiding confrontation with terrorist organizations would lead to their strengthening and future escalation. He argued that if individuals approach the border fence and attempt to harm Israel, they should be shot rather than met with tear gas. "In any normal country, someone who approaches your fence and wants to destroy the country is shot to kill," he stated during the discussion.

Ben-Gvir also mentioned disagreements with the Chief of Staff and other security officials regarding the appropriate response to provocations at the border fence. He believed a more aggressive military response was necessary to deter attacks.

Otzma Yehudit presented the footage as evidence of Ben-Gvir's consistent stance on the threat from Gaza prior to the Hamas attack. The party claimed that if Ben-Gvir had been the Defense Minister, the October 7th events would not have occurred. According to the party's statement, two of the security coordinators present at the meeting were casualties of the subsequent Hamas attack; one was killed and the other was severely wounded while fighting terrorists.